Feeding and weighing device for carding machines



- J; FZSQHIMEK FEEDING AND WEIGHING DEVICE FOR CARDING MACHINES Filed June 22 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' Nov. 6, 1923. 12112315 J. F. $CHlMEK FEEDING AND WEIGHING' DEVICE FOR CARDING MACHINES Filed June 22. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov, 6, 1923.

' J. F. SCHIMEK FEEDING AND WEIGHING DEVICE FOR CARDING IVIACHIIUL'S Filed June 22 1921' 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

UNITED TA S JOSEPH F. SOHIMEK, OF HOLDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORTO CASHIiKO M'ACHINE COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, CORPORATION. OF MASSACHU- FEEDING nnnwnremne DEVICE FOR cARnInG MACHINES.

- Application filed June 22, 1921. Serial No. 479.583.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnrH F. SCHIMEK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Holden, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in 1 Feeding and gVVeighing Devices for Carding Machines, of which thefollowing, to-

gether with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to a feeding and weighing device for carding machines, and it has for its object to provide an improved mechanism of the above described type that 16 is adapted-to automatically weigh the material which is to bev carded before delivering it.to the carding machine.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide an intermittent feeding mechanism)- 2 that is adapted to continuously deliver successive charges of material to the carding machine, each charge containing a predetermined weight of material, in accordance with the setting of the weighing mechanism.

A still further object of. my invention is to provide a novel clutch mechanism for use in connection with the feeding mechanism of my device, whereby the latter may be intermittently operated in timed relation to the weighing mechanism.

These andother advantageous features of my invention will hereinafter more fully appear, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in sideelevation of a device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic; view illustrating the general operation of the feeding mechanism, v I 1 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view showing certain of the parts of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. 7 r

Fig. 4 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

the parts shown in Fig. 1, showing the operation of the weighing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 5. I

Fig. 7 is an end view of a portion of the parts shown in Fig. 5. 1

Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional F'g. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of view along the line 8-8, Fig. 1, showing parts of the clutch mechanism. I Fig. 9, is a sectional view similarlto Fig. 8, showing the parts in a diiferentposition. Fig. 10 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 8. 1

Fig. 11 is an end view of the driving member of the clutch mechanism. I

Fig. 12 is a sectional View online 12-12, Fig. 11.

' Fig. 13 is an end View of the driven member of the clutch.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures. L

' Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, my improved device comprises end. framesl which are joined together by side members 2 to provide a box 3 for receiving the material which is to be carded. A hinged door4 is provided in the upper portion of one of the members 2, through which the material may be placed in the box... An apron 5, provided with 3. P111. rality of inclined spikes 6, is carried on rolls 7 and 8 which are rotatably mounted between the end frames 1 on shafts 9 and 10 respectively. Guide rolls 11' are provided for supporting the apron 5 inside the box between the rolls 7 and 8, and aroll 12 is located below the roll 7 for the purpose of causing the portion of apron 5 supported therebetween to move in a substantially verticalplane. The end frames. 1 extend above and beyond the roll 7, and the space therebetween is inclosed by slats 13. 1 A roll 14 is rotatably mounted within this space, with its periphery closely adj acent to the surface of the apron 5 at the point where it is supported bythe roll 12. The roll 14 is connected to the shaft9 by suitable gearing, in-

dicated in dotted lines. A shelf 15 is supported be ow the rolls12 and 14.- a

' The shaft9 is adapted to be driven from a shaft 16 through gearing 17, and the shaft 16 is connected by a belt 18'to a shaft 1.9 which is supportediby the-lower portionsof the frames 1. The shaft 19 is in; turn adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power, not shown, by a belt 20 which may be conveniently carried by a suitable driving pulley mounted on the carding machine to which it is desired to deliver the material handled by my improved device. From a consideration of Fig. 2, it is apparent that rotation of the shaft 9 will cause the apron to carry material within the box over the roll 7, and will cause it to pass between the roll 14 and the apron 5. The material will then be delivered to the shelf 15, from whence it will fall into a weighing hopper 21.

The hopper 21 is supported at each end by a weighing arm 22 which is pivotally supported on a bracket 23 by a knife edge 24. A plurality of weights 25 are adj ustably mounted on the arm 22 and tend to maintain the arm 22 in ahorizontal position against the overhanging portion of the frame. A bell crank lever 26 is pivotally mounted above the arm 22, and one end thereof is connected to the arm 22 by means of a link 27.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 41, the other end of the lever 26 is provided with a tooth 28 which is in engagement with a notch 29 provided on a pawl 30 which is pivotally mounted on a pin. 31. The lever 26 isprovided with a weighted portion 32, which tends to turn the lever in a counterclockwise direction and thereby maintain the tooth 28 in engagement with the notch 29. The pawl 30 is provided with a weighted portion 33, which tends to turn the pawl in a counterclockwise direction toward a ratchet wheel 34, which is mounted on the shaft 9 behind the gear 17, as best shown in Fig. 1. The pawl 30 is further provided with a tooth 35, which, however, is held out of engagement with the teeth 36 of the ratchet wheel by the tooth 28 on the lever 26. The ratchet wheel 3l is normally adapted to turn with the gear 17 so long as it is free of the tooth 35, but when the tooth is allowed to engage one of the teeth 36, the wheel 34 and the shaft 9 are adapted to be disconnected from the gear 17 by a clutching device which will be hereinafter described.

The hopper 21 will remain in the horizontal. position shown in Fig. 1 until the rotation of the rolls 7 and 1 1 causes enough material to be fed therein to overbalance the weights 25 on the arm 22. When this occurs, the hopper 21 will move downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 5, a stop 37 be ing provided to limit the upward movement of the arm 22. This movement of the arm 22 causes the lever 26 to be turned in a clockwise direction about its pivot, which causes the tooth 28 to be withdrawn from the notch 29 in the pawl 30. The pawl 30 is then free to turn about its pivot pin 31, so that the tooth 35 engages one of the teeth 36 of the ratchet wheel 34 and holds it against rotation. As soon as the ratchet wheel an is thus locked, the shaft 9 is disconnected from the gear 17, as will be hereinafter described, and no additional material is fed into the hopper 21.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the hopper 21 comprises a pair of curved memhers 38 and 39, which are supported between the weighing arms 22 by shafts ell) and 1-1 respectively, with which the members 38 and 39 are adapted to turn. The shafts 410 and ll are supported in notches 12 and 43 provided on the weighing arm 22. One end of the shaft 4:0 is provided with an arm it which carries a pin 45 that is received in a slot 16 provided in an arm lTsecured to the shaft 41. The 1 1 and 17 are normally held in parallel relation by means of a spring 18 provided with a dog t9, which engages the pin and prevents the arms from moving downwardly, by reason of their weight. When the arms and .1T are hus held in parallel relation, the members 38 and 39 of the hopper are in engagement along their lower edges, so that. the hopper remains closed and retains material which is delivered thereto by the apron 5.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2,-a shaft is rotatably supported betwien the end frames 1 and is adapted to be driven by means of a chain 51. from a shaft 52 supported between brackets 53 projecting out wardly from the end frames 1. The chain 51 is located at the opposite end oi. the machine from that shown in Fig. 1, and is therefore merely indicated in Fig. 2. n roll 5 1 is mounted on the shaft 52 and supports an apron 55 which is also supported on a roll 56 mounted at the outer ends of the brackets The shaft is driven from a suitable source of power not shown, which is preferably located on the carding machine, so that the apron 55 is adapted to be driven continuously in the direction of the arrow.

A pusher board 57 is supported between the brackets on a rod 58, which projects at its ends through a slot 59 provided in each bracket Each end, of the rod 58 is proided with a collar (30 through which extends a connecting rod 61. A crank arm 62 is monntedon the shaft 50, and the free end of the connecting rod (31 is connected thereto by means of a pin 63 adjustahly secured within a. slot 6% on the arm 6-. Rotation of the shaft 52 will cause the apron to move to the right in the direction of the carding machine, while the pusher board 57 reciprocates above the apron, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figs. 5, (S and 7, an arm 65 is mounted on the shaft 50 in back of the crank arm 62, and a roller 66 is mounted thereon by mean of a pin (37 which i adjustable within a slot 68. The roller 66 extends in the direction of the crank arm (32 and is adapted to engage operating portions 69 and 70 provided. at the ends of a pair of rocker arms 71 and 72 respectively. The rocker arm 71 is pivotally supported on a shaft 73 and is provided with a weighted projection 7st, which normally rests against a stop 75 to maintain the arm 71 in the po- -sition shown; The rocker arm 71 is further provided with a tripper 76, which extends in the direction of the spring 48 on the hopper and terminates in a finger 77 normally held just above the end of the spring 48, as best shown in Fig. 6. r a

Rotation of the shaft 50 will cause the roller 66 on the arm to engage the operating portion 69011 the rocker arm '71 and thereby turn it about the shaft 7 3 inaclockwise direction, as indicated in dash lines. The movement of the, rocker arm 71 will cause the finger 77 on the tripper 76 to enthe end of. the spring 48 and force it downwardly so that the pin 45 is released from the dog 49. The arms 44 and 47 will then be free to drop downwardly, thereby turning the shafts 40 and 41 and causing the members 38 and 39 of the hopper to separate, as indicated in dash. lines. The materialwithin the hopper ,will then fall uponthe apron The crank arm 62 is mounted, on the shaft 50 in advance of the l'OllGPttl'Il'l 65, so that-the pusher board-57 will be at the left hand end of its stroke just as the hopper is opened, as described above. Continued rotation of the shaft 50 will cause the pusher board 57 to push the material on the apron to the right until it is clear of the hopper.

As best shown in Fig. 7, therocker arm. 72 is also provided with a weighted projection 78 normally engaging the stop 75. A second projection 79 of the rocker arm 72 is connected by a link 80 to a closing arm 81, which is pivotally mounted on the bracket 23 and extends to a point beneath the pin 45 on the hopper arm 44. The closing arm 81 is bent outwardly, as shown at 82, so as to clear the tripper 76. a An adjustable rod 83 is also connected to the projection 79 of the rocker arm 72 and extends upwardly to a point behind the pawl 30 where it is connected to an arm 84 mounted on the same pin 31 as the pawl 30. The arm 84 is pro vided with a pin 85 which projects into a notch 86 provided on the pawl 30 between the tooth 35 and the notch 29.

When the rocker arm 72 is turned by engagement of the roller 66 therewith, the closing arm 81 is moved upwardly until it engages the pin 45 on the hopper arm 44. This same movement of the rocker arm 72 also causes the rod 83 to move the pin 85 downwardly, and thereby engage the pawl 30,. as will be hereinafter described.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 13 inclusive,

there, is shown my improved clutching mechanism, previously referred to, for controlling the connection between the shaft 9 and the gear 17. The hub 87 of'the' gear 17 isprovided with a plurality of teeth 88 which are adapted to be engaged by similar teeth 89 on a driving member 90. The member 90 is slidably mounted on the shaft 9 which exvthe notches 100. on the driven member.

tends therethrough. and 'f is provided with a collar 91.; A spring 92surrounds the shaft 9 between the collar Y91 and the member .90 V

and tends to hold the teeth88 and 89 inchgagement. The ratchet wheel 34 is mounted on a sleeve 93 which extends through the hub ,87 and is provided with an enlarged portion 94wh1ch is received in a counterbored por- ,tion of the hub 87. The face of the portion 94.is provided with a plurality of teeth 95, and the driving .member90 is also provided with a plurality of teeth 96 'whichare adapted to, register with the teeth 95, as best shown in Fig512. i

, As best shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the drivingmember: 90 is further provided with a pair .of'lugs 97 which project outwardly from the'face thereofat diametrically oppo-,

site {points Theenlarged portion 94 ofthe .sleeve is provided with a recess 98, within which is located a driven member99. The

member 99 is keyed to the shaft 9, and as best shown in Fig. 13, is provided with a pair of notches 100 located at diametrically opposite points on the periphery thereof and adapted to receive the lugs 97 on the driving member 90;

The spring 92' normally tendsto hold the teeth 89 of the driving member 90 in engagement with, the teeth 88 on the gear 87, and also to hold the lugs 97in engagement v iiltlh e teeth 96 are also then in engagement with the teeth 'on the sleeve 93. The several sets of teeth will remain in engagementuas longas the ratchet wheel'34 is free to rotate onthe shaft 9, but when the wheel 34 is held against rotation by the pawl 30, as previously described, the teeth 95 and 96 will slide upon each other, and being deeper than the teeth 88'and89, will move the driving member 90 to the right against the spring 92 until the teeth 88 are withdrawn from'endriving members located on the carding machine. Rotation" of the shaft 9 will then cause the spikes 6 on the apron 5 to convey a portion-of the materi'alin the box over. the roll: 7 ,1 from whence it passes downwardly between the roll 14 and the apron 5 into'the hopper 21. I

a The weights, 25 on the weighing arm 22 having been previously adjusted to give the proper charge, the hopper 21 will move chine downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 5 when enough material has been accumulated therein to counterbalance the weights 25. This movement of the arms 22 will allow the tooth on the pawl to hold the ratchet wheel 3% against rotation and there by disconnect the shaft 9 from the gear 17, as previously described. No more material will be fed into the hopper as long as the tooth engages the ratchet wheel 34: and the shaft 9 remains stationary.

After the operation of the weighing mechanism and just as the pusher board 57 reaches the end of its stroke away from the carding machine, the roller (36 will engage the rocker arm Tl and cause the tripper 76 to open the hopper, as shown in dash lines in Fig. The material within the hopper will then fall upon the apron 5-3 and will be pushed forward thereon by the board 57, after which it will be delivered to the card ing machine. 7

Continued rotation of the shaft will cause the roller 66 to engage the rocker arm 72, whereupon the closing arm 81 will engage the pin a5 and close the hopper. This same movement of the rocker arm 72 causes the pin 85 on the arm 84; to move downwardly into the notch 86 and withdraw the pawl tooth 35 from the ratchet wheel 34, whereupon the shaft 9 will again be connected to the gear 17 bythe action of the spring 92 in forcing the teeth 88 and 89 again into engagement. The apron 5 will again feed the material into the hopper until another charge has been weighed and dropped upon the apron 55, whereupon the shaft 9 will again be disconnected.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the above cycle of operations will continue so long as the several driving shafts are connected to'the carding machine and that material will be intermittently fed, weighed and dropped upon the apron for conveyance to the carding machine. In this way separate charges of material, each the same weight, will be successively delivered to the carding machine, without any manual operations being required after the material is once placed in the box 3. The operation of my various mechanisms is entirely automatic and insures that equal charges of material will be delivered to the carding mawith much greater accuracy than could possibly be obtained by hand feeding.

lVhile I have shown a specific arrangement of instrumentalities for performing the various operations of my device, it is not so limited but is susceptible of various modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a receptacle, a weighing hopper, a movable apron for conveying material from said receptacle to said hopper, a rotating actuating element for driving said apron, and means for removing the material passing through said hopper, followin the o)enin thereof of means dependent upon the operation of said hopper for disconnecting said apron from said act-u ating element, means for opening said hopper, and further means dependent upon the operation of said material removing means for closing said hopper, and reconnecting said apron to said actuating element.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a weighing hopper, an apron roll mounted on a rotatable shaft, an actuating clement adapted to rotate freely about the axis of rotation of said shaft, a ratchet wheel also adapted to rotate freely about the axis of said shaft, and a clutching member adapted to couple both the roll shaft and the ratchet wheel to said actuating element, of means operated by the said weighing hopper to hold the said ratchet wheel against rotation, and thereby uncouple said roll shaft from said actuating element.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotatable shaft, a driving element and an intermediate member adapted to rotate freely about the axis of said shaft, of a clutching member adapted to connect said interi'ncdiate member and said shaft to said element, and means for arresting the rotation of said intermediate member to cause disengagement of said clutching IilelillJQl from said driving element.

at. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rotatable shaft. a driving element and an intermediate member adapted to rotate freely about the axis of said shaft, of a clutching member norn'ially held in operative engagement with said driving element and adapted to connect said shaft and said intermediate member thereto, and means for arresting the rotation of said intermediate member to cause disengagement of said clutching member from said driving element.

In a machine of the class described, the combination with rotatable shaft, a driving element and an intern'iediate member adapted to rotate freely about the axis of said shaft, said element and said intermediate member being provided with teeth, and a clutching member slidably mounted on said shaftand provided with teeth adapted to engage the teeth on said driving element and said intermediate member, of means for arresting the rotation of said intermediate member to cause disengagement of the teeth on the respective elements.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a weighing hopper comprising pivotally mounted wings normally tending by gravity to remain in an open position, and. a yieldable member for mainllll) lit) maintained in a closed position, and a rotating actuating member, of means controlled by the rotation of said member for positively opening and closing said wings once for each complete revolution of said actuating memher when said vhopper has been moved to full lower position.

8. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a weighing hopper c0mprising pivotally mounted wings tending by gravity to remaln in an open position, means for maintaining said wings in a closed posltion, and a rotating actuating member, of

pivotally mounted elements separately oper ated by said rotating member for first releasing said wings and allowing them to open and then closing said wings when said hopper has been moved to its full lower position. Dated this 14th day of June, 1921.

JOSEPH F. SCHIMEK. 

